George wrote:
"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
...

Dr. Hardcrab wrote:

"Jeff Wisnia" wrote



When he didn't hear a whistling overfill alarm signal within a couple of
seconds after opening the hose nozzle he should have known something was
wrong and slammed the nozzle closed.


Not all tanks have whistles. Should they? Sure. But, as I said, not all

do.


The lack of a simple Scully can ruin one's day...


I happened to sit next to a fuel oil dealer at my Rotary Club's lunch
meeting yesterday and asked him if tank overfill signals for "hidden"
tanks were required by code here in Taxachusetts. He replied that they
have been for as long as he can remember. He also said that the code
requires capping disconnected fillpipes.

I don't know nuttin about Jersey though...

Happy Holidays,

Jeff






Agreed, but in the absence of a whistling tank fill signal the only
acceptable alternative IMO is to be able to get to the tank and check
the available volume with the tank gage or by sticking the tank, before
starting to pump as much as one gallon into it.



Sounds good but not realistic. Many people are not home and the tanks are in
the basement. which means the delivery guy cannot verify anything and you
typically can't stick an inside tank.

Also the idea of listening for the whistle will only minimize damage. Modern
oil delivery trucks can pump at 50 gallons or more a minute. So even a quick
"squirt" can put 25 gallons into a basement if someone were to remove a tank
and leave the fill intact.

Most of the blame rests with whoever did the gas install. Even if they
decided to leave the fill lines in place they could have removed the fill
cap and installed a $1.00, 2" black cap so no one could accidently fill.



Anything less is taking too big a chance, and my sympathies go to any
fuel oil delivery truck operators who are pushed by their bosses to fill
the customer's tank "regardless".

Way back when we didn't lust for so much material goods and have so much
of what we earned confiscated to fund welfare programs most wife's jobs
were maintaining a proper and nurturing environment for their children.
So, there was usually someone at home to receive an oil delivery.
Typically there were two guys with the tank truck, one to go down in the
basement and watch the tank level, and the other outside to handle the
hose and nozzle. When the tank was safely full the guy inside would bang
on the fillpipe with his wrench to signal the guy outside to stop filling.

The development of the whistling signal by Scully in the 30s made
"unattended delivery" by one operator possible, as access to the tank
was no longer required in order to make a safe fill. As you pointed out,
it is a marvelously simple and virtually fail-safe device.

Thanks for the mammaries, and Happy Holidays,

Jeff



--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"





--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"